As Rey Sanchez was denying allegations of his taboo clubhouse haircut yesterday, The Post learned the identity of the amateur barber: Armando Benitez.

A source close to the team told The Post that Benitez was part of the incident, which was believed to have occurred in St. Louis during the last road trip, reportedly sending Mike Stanton into orbit.

When first asked last night, Benitez did not confirm nor deny his role.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” Benitez said. “What’s in the past is in the past.”

Asked later by a different Post reporter if he was a participant, Benitez said, “No, because I wasn’t in the clubhouse. I just found out about it today.”

The Mets were relieved that Benitez’s involvement had been one of the few details to escape widespread media attention, the source added. The embattled closer, who has pitched well of late after blowing four games in April, already is a target of widespread fan abuse. Benitez saved last night’s 3-2 victory over Los Angeles, his 10th save in 14 tries.

The Mets yesterday were the subject of national ridicule on ESPN and talk radio, but their reaction was to evade the haircut situation completely.

Sanchez, the Mets shortstop, was caught by Stanton getting a haircut during a game the Mets were losing, according to ESPN Radio’s Michael Kay. Sanchez denied that, but he was the only person involved with the organization to do so.

The rest of the team, including management, reacted as if the story was a dead issue, no big deal, or both.

Owner Fred Wilpon deferred to manager Art Howe and GM Steve Phillips, who admitted the players initially dealt with the haircut among themselves. Howe said he dealt with it yesterday after learning about it. The Mets also held a pregame team meeting; Sanchez did not speak during it.

“I discussed it with the parties involved and we handled the situation,” Howe said. “We addressed things internally.”

“I wish I knew how this got started,” Stanton said. “This really isn’t a story. I’ve got nothing to say about it. Whatever does or doesn’t happen in the clubhouse, that’s where it stays.”

Asked whether Sanchez had been disciplined, Howe said, “That’s been taken care of.” A suspension seemed unlikely; a fine is more probable.

Scott Boras, Sanchez’s agent, did not return messages, and MLBPA counsel Bob Lenaghan said he had not heard anything about a punishment or a potential grievance from Sanchez.

Sanchez, whose relationship with the media has been strained, at best, this season, denied the situation.

“It didn’t happen. It’s not true.” Asked if he was embarrassed, Sanchez said, “Embarrassed of what? I didn’t do anything.”

Though Sanchez denied the haircut took place – “I don’t know what he said or why he said it,” Phillips said in response to Sanchez’s denial – it was clear something of that nature happened. Several sources said Sanchez wasn’t getting a full haircut but was trimming his sideburns.

Wilpon sounded as if he didn’t want anything to do with the subject. Asked if he would release the shortstop if the club found undeniable proof Sanchez was getting an in-game cut, Wilpon cut off the question by saying, “That’s too hypothetical.”